Borated fertilizer.



No Drawing.

UNITED s'rn'frns PATENT OFFICE.

CARLETON ELLIS, or LARCHMON'T, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIS-FOSTER COMPANY, I A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BORATED FERTILIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1909. Serial No. 486,049.

of which the following is a lime-bor'ax waste material from the manumost borax salts are soluble,

. hindered. The

facture of borax. This material has desirable fertilizing properties andin addition has a neutralizing action on acid soils which make it especially desirable as an ingredient of fertilizers. It also has certain antiseptic qualities which render its application particularly advantageous in soils where bacteria and fungi of various sorts have se-, cured a foothold. It possesses however the disadvantage of exerting an inhibiting action on nitrifying bacteria which .are so essential to the conversion of nitrogenous matter into nitrates and nitrites. In order that nitrogen may be readily taken up by vegetation, it is necessary that this nitrogen be in the form of a nitrate or nitrite, and in the use of tankage or similar organic bodies or of ammonium salts such as ammonium sulfate or chlorid, oxidation must take place through the agency of nitrifyingbacteria in order to produce nitrate or nitrite The inhibiting action of the lime-borax waste on nitrifyin bacteria makes its use in the untreated orm undesirable. I have found that such waste material may be rendered inert to nitrifying bacteria by the addition of a neutralizing body preferably a basic compound of lime, such as saccharate of lime or ordinary quick-lime. The action in this case apparently is to form a sort of borate which while having sterilizing and antiseptic action, and which is selective so far as ordinary bacteria and fungi are concerned, is without influence on nitrifying bacteria, and in fact, under certain circum-. stances, may accelerate their action. As

it is not possible to add a material which will precipitate and render insoluble the borax constituent nor indeed would it be desirable in view of the sterilizing action of the latter, provided the action of nitrifying bacteria is not neutralizing action of the Improvements in Borated Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

lime compound referred to is such that the lime-borax- Waste may be used in rather large proportions without disadvantage.

The sludges of wastes obtained in the manufacture of borax are usuallycomposedto a large extent either of sulfate or carbonate of lime. A typical analysis of the former is as follows Lime 37.28% Sulfuric acid anhydrous 51. 40%- Silica 4.48% Alumina and iron oxid 1. 59% Anhydrous boric acid 2.10% agnesia 24% Water 2. 91%

and of thelatter- Silica 8.67% Alumina 1. 81 Oxid of iron .35% Lime 45.84% Magnesia 2. 75% Anhydrous boric acid 2.36%

Carbonate acid (anhydrous) 83. 85% Sodium oxid 1. 16% Water '2. 02%

Small amounts of chloride and sulfates.

' The above analyses are based on the dry material but it should be understood that the sludge as obtained from the treating tanks is moist, ordinarily carrying from 25% to 50% of water.

It is probable also that the treated limeborax waste exerts an influence on the action of toxic materials which accumulate in the soil, such for example, as dihydroxystearic acid and picolin dicarboxylic acid, rendering such bodies either inert or less toxic in action.

In order to convert the borax waste into a useful form, I may treat it in the moist condition (containin 25% to 50% of water) with ground quickime, which apparently forms the basic borate referred to and at the same time desiccates the borax waste, producing either a dry powder or a material which may be readily dried with the expenditure of but little fuel. Ordinarily for this purpose, I add from 5% to 10% of quicklime to the damp waste material with agitation and heating. If calcium saccharate is used, I employ from 2% to 3% ordinarily.

consists of treate A suitable' formula illustrative of my invention consists of treated waste. lime-borax 'material 35 parts, Chile saltpeter 25 parts,

tassium chlorid 20 parts, superphosphate of lime 35 parts.

With the above may be incorporated other fertilizing or extending materials, such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, kainite, carnallite, glauconite, and ground feldspar. Humus especially in the form of dried granular peat may be added to advantage. In some cases, double superphosphate of lime may be used to partly replace the superphosphate or other phosphate material.

Having described my invention to the details of which description I do not wish to limit myself, what I claim is 1. As a fertilizer the herein described waste material derived from the production of borax, and an alkaline compound; whereby its boric acid content is rendered "non toxic to vegetation. 2. A fertilizer containing the herein de-v scribed waste material derived from the production of borax an alkaline compound; whereby its boric acid content is rendered non-toxic to vegetation and soluble fertilizing salts.

3. A fertilizer consistin of the herein described waste material derived from the production of borax, a lime compound; whereby its boric acid content is rendered harmless to vegetation and soluble fertilizing salts including compounds of potash, ammonia and phosphoric acid.

4. A fertilizer comprising in described waste material derived fromthe production of borax and soluble fertilizing salts.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

V GARLETON ELLIS. Witnesses:

NATHANIEL L. FOSTER, FRANCES I. NEwMAN.

. 10 lime, the here- 

